Cops Plead Not Guilty to Sexual Assault

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 21, 2011 1:40PM

Paul Clavijo and Juan Vasquez, the two police officers accused of sexually assaulting a young woman they picked up near Wrigley Field in late March, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Clavijo and Vasquez were charged on May 11 and stripped of their police powers. According to the indictment, Clavijo had sex in the squad car with the victim while Vasquez went to a liquor store to buy booze. When they reached the victim's apartment, they played strip poker and both officers sexually assaulted her, according to prosecutors. A neighbor who is a witness in the case said she heard the victim pounding on the walls and screaming for help. Parts of Vasquez's uniform were recovered in her apartment.

Clavijo is also suspected of a March 10 sexual assault of a woman he and Vasquez picked up at a bus stop. He's alleged to have forced himself upon this woman while Vasquez excused himself to go to the bathroom.